The singer’s rep told The Hollywood Reporter the appearance was his own idea, and that as soon as he learned of the game, he “took a red-eye flight with his wife, Katie McNeil, from Los Angeles to Boston and made his way to Fenway directly from the airport in time for the game’s opening ceremony.”

“I was humbled and honored to be in Boston and to be able to personally thank and express my gratitude to the first responders and law enforcement officers,” Neil said in a statement.